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Death, Dying, and the Afterlife: Lessons from World Cultures cover art

Death, Dying, and the Afterlife: Lessons from World Cultures

Written by: Mark Berkson, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Mark Berkson
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Publisher's Summary

After thousands of years of pondering it, we still find death one of life's most perplexing mysteries. Many cultures view death as a window into the true meaning of life.

These 24 lectures looking at this often feared subject are an uplifting, meaningful, and multidisciplinary exploration of life's only certainty. Bringing together theology, philosophy, biology, anthropology, literature, psychology, sociology, and other fields, they are a brilliant compendium of how human beings have struggled to come to terms with mortality. You'll encounter everything from ancient burial practices, traditional views of the afterlife, and the five stages of grief to the question of killing during wartime, the phenomenon of near-death experiences, and even 21st-century theories about transcending death itself.

With personal and cultural enlightenment as the overarching goal, Professor Berkson provides you with eye-opening answers to several major questions surrounding death, including: How do we think about death? How do religions approach death? When (if ever) is it justified to take a life? You'll also hear a chorus of voices from multiple disciplines, cultures, and ages as they offer sometimes shocking and sometimes refreshing perspectives on death. These voices include the Buddha, St. Paul, Albert Camus, Dylan Thomas, and Elizabeth Kübler-Ross.

"Many religious traditions teach that a form of regular death reflection can deepen one's appreciation for life," Professor Berkson notes. "And in some traditions, it can actually lead to spiritual transformation or awakening. As the poet Rainer Maria Rilke wrote, 'Whoever rightly understands and celebrates death at the same time magnifies life.'"

©2016 The Great Courses (P)2016 The Teaching Company, LLC

What listeners say about Death, Dying, and the Afterlife: Lessons from World Cultures

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interesting

A lot of information and very helpful but still, it's all speculation. We'll never know truly, until we make the voyage for ourselves.

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Some unique perspectives

I enjoyed most of the chapters in this series. The ones about Islam, Hinduism, and Chinese religions dragged a bit after the first fifteen minutes. However, the chapter about euthanasia as well as the final chapter about the disadvantages of living forever were both fascinating.

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An interesting and meaningful experience

The best way I can describe this lecture series is as a thoughtful guided exploration of death and how we as people approach, comprehend, reject, understand, fear, and accept death and our own mortality. A very enjoyable listen from start to finish.

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